Being an Indian I have witnessed a lot of Arranged Marriages, some small scale some larger than life in all its grandeur; but few things never change in an Indian Arranged Marriage.
Do read my earlier article also if you want a prelude to Indian Marriages and wants to know How Indians select their Brides. 😎
If yours is also an Arranged marriage, do share what was same or different in your case; even if you have opted for a Love marriage, tell us about your experience.
My Take on Indian Arranged Marriages
No need to comment, if you are still single; why waste your freedom here 😛
Those who are not aware of this Mega Sale phenomenon, Black Friday is celebrated next day of Thanksgiving each year. Black Friday is the official starting of holiday shopping season.
If you are curious, why it’s called Black, then don’t worry, there is nothing gloomy or dark about this day, but rather Black is the color of Gain in financial record books, thus Black means good here. 🙂
Big stores like Target, Walmart, Kohl’s and even Amazon like online stores, come up with huge number of deals to attract shoppers. These deals includes electronics, clothes, Mobiles, appliances, tools, and every other imaginable thing that you can buy.
Shoppers will make long lines in front of stores, waiting hours just to grab their interested deal item. To put in concise words – this is the biggest Shopping Festival.
If you are not still ready for this mega event then read on, because we have collected some major helping tips for you to have the best shopping experience this Black Friday.
Make a List– It may sound mundane, but this should be the first thing that you should do. So, make a list of all the items that you want to buy.
Do Research – Search for the best brand and store for your list items. For example, if you want to buy a TV, search which type (smart, hdtv, plasma, etc…) you want. Then research on which brand like Samsung, Sony, Vizio; which suits your need most. Then lookout for the store giving you the best deal on it. Always compare prices and features at this point.
Sign up for Store Emails – They are annoying and do spam your inbox, but this is the time, when those promotional store emails are beneficial. Sign up, and you will most probably get some great deal with extra discount, right in your mail.
Be Social – Every store and Brand has its Facebook or Twitter page nowadays. Follow them and you will get to know everything from their sales timing to their maps.
Use Store Apps – Many big stores like Walmart have their own apps. Reason for downloading these apps now, is that you will get to know every change in deals at the very instant. Not to miss, you will be seeing map of your favorite item’s location right on your phone.
Search for Coupon Codes – This is a great way on saving some more money. Mostly our sign up mails will serve the purpose but additionally you may want to visit your product’s website and there search for coupon codes.
Create a Budget – now, you have a fair knowledge of what you want and for how much, so list down every item along with the maximum stretch budget allowance for that item. This will stop you from over spending and also made you realize the items you don’t really want to buy this time.
Shop Smart – It is time to go to store. Our advice, wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Take your water and food/snacks with you. Charge your phone fully. Take an ipod or a book to kill some waiting time there.
Divide and Conquer – Try to shop in a group. Assign each individual their items to grab. If you are shopping in the same store, plan the timings of each. If in different stores, always keep in touch with phone. You will be able to pick more items in less time.
Check Return Policy – Always ask the cashier or customer support at the store about the return policy of your product. Some deal items do not have it, so be sure of what you are buying. Also try t get a gift receipt for the items you are buying for others. This way they can return them if they want.
Stay in the comfort of your home – This is our favorite advice for Black Friday Sale. Stay at home and shop online. There is now very little difference in terms of deals online and in stores. So, if you want to avoid the crowd and hassle, go the online way. Sites like Amazon offers great deals on Black Friday every year, just lookout for the shipping details too.
Now that you have read all our tips, you are ready to jump in this mega sale hysteria, called Black Friday.
We wish you all the luck and lots of deals for this year’s Black Friday Sale.
If you are reading “The Templar Legacy”, without knowing about its author, I can bet that you will most probably think of it as a C grade draft version of Dan Brown‘s novel, something which he used to practice before writing The Da Vinci Code. Sadly, author is not Dan Brown. It’s sad because if it had been the same pathetic novel but written by Brown, I could have enjoyed the company of Robert Langdon.
Steve Berry‘s novel “The Templar Legacy”, is by far just one time read which you would like to forget as soon as you reach the end. It has two male protagonist, Cotton Malone a retired US operative, now a book seller; and another one is Mark, who is next in line to become Master in Templar legacy. Female protagonist is Stephanie who is mother of Mark and previous boss of Cotton Malone.
Stephanie and Cotton got entangled in a thrilling chase running after a riddle to find Templar treasure and secret. Lars, Stephanie’s late husband was searching for the Templar’s great secret, referred as Device in the novel, which can reinstate their power again on the royals and popes of the religious world. Lars, got killed in his hunt for the truth, but he was the nearest to the device in his search when he died. Now, everyone is behind Stephanie and Malone to get their hands on Lars’s journal and decipher the location of device.
Their are other characters too, mostly uninteresting ones. What lacked in this novel was the fact that, chase is one dimensional. It’s not for clues, it’s just running from a villainous character. Most of the time they are just reading from the journal or one of them is remembering the past stories from Templar’s book. They are just reading or running. When they find out the key to unravel the secret location it was too simple, and was almost all over the place, which they couldn’t decipher for so long.(they so needed Robert Langdon in this story)
The big secret, around which the whole device is built upon, is based upon the Resurrection of Jesus. This could be a big secret, if and only if, it would have been less for religious gains but rather for discovering a new kind of faith. Author did tried to do that and justify the resurrection in his own way, through a letter, but it was not as convincing as it should be to instill that long lost faith in humanity rather than supernatural miracles.
I have always enjoyed Dan Brown, but Steve Berry, you are not even near what a real reading zestfulness is.
I am almost regretting my decision of picking up this title for my post. “When I was Sixteen”. It’s kind of making me look old, very old. Feeling like its been a very long time since I was sixteen. I am not old, not at all. I am just sixteen plus five years and few more just here and there. Not more than that.
So, now that I have clarified that the above title has nothing to do with my current age, I would like to go ahead on my post.
Lamb In Love
The reason that I am going all nostalgic about being sixteen is a book. “Lamb in Love” by Carrie Brown. I picked up Lamb in Love after my read of Dan Brown’s Inferno.
Brown (Dan) – Brown (Carrie) sitting next to each other – in the Library. Funny 🙂
If you, by any chance go by the list of books that I have read, you will notice that I have seldom read love stories. I don’t even remember the last time I have picked one. So, I was very enthusiastic about reading a love story after such a long time. But, man it was slow.
When I was Sixteen
It was so slow. that I have never felt the urge to use my book as pillow to sleep before. It was a love story between Norris and Vida, both in their late years, around forty. They and their cute love of just waiting and looking at the other one through the corners. Shy and coylove, oh I am so over it now. So over, that I just couldn’t finish it. Just can’t.
That’s when I realized, that I am no longer that sixteen year old, who used to love this type of slow and romantic love stories. I have so much outgrown this lovey dovey stuff, it startled me a little. :O
When I was Sixteen
How I used to think of a prince charming, riding on an ultra white horse? I used to think of the, first sight love, butterflies in stomach and tinkling of bells.
Saw your prince and fall in love at the same moment. I used to think of that slow pacing introductory love, which used to take months to say hello, to love of your life. How stupid I was to think of finding ones soul-mate in that first sight. That blush of cheeks and stammering of words when you saw them. Cupid struck!!!
It was damn cute, but very funny, now to think of it. I see now some of these fifteen and sixteen years old, but I don’t see that innocence or say stupidity. I see love but no lovebirds. Maybe a few, but rare species now, almost extinct.
I don’t miss that period of my life, it was silly and adorable at the same time. Now, I have my soul mate. Bells don’t ring in my ears but birds do sing and sometimes I blush too 🙂
When I was Sixteen
On that note, maybe I’ll try reading another love story, pretty soon…..
I can proudly say that I have read all the books by Dan Brown. Yes, all of them. Journey started from “The Da Vinci Code”. I liked that book and then started reading every other book coming out of Brown’s closet, but never find the passion that first love (first book) had.
Dan Brown with Dante
Inferno, like all other Brown’s work, has so much to offer in terms of art and cultural details from the eyes of Robert Langdon. Oh Mr. Langdon, I love you. I love you for the pure genius that you are. Although, I do not believe that you would be as athletic or as charming (looks wise) as depicted in the book. But, still I love you. Love you for the sheer knowledge explosion that you are. Love you for the company that you can give while visiting breathtaking arts exotica.
Robert Langdon
This time also Langdon got a beautiful travel companion, Sienna. What is different is, his journey. Journey to hell, Inferno. Book is a downright dedication to Dante’s Inferno the Divine Comedy. The way story unfolds it makes you wonder if you are really going to hell and going to meet the three-headed monster called Satan. It’s an amazing journey when you are running through the magnificent museums in Florence, that too with Mr. Langdon.
Inferno
Inferno
Journey started with the projector that Robert found, showing Map of Hell. An altered map of hell, giving clues to where to go next. As in most of Langdon adventures this too has lots of clues and secrets hidden in plain sight, secrets leading to the amazing journey of investigating masterpieces of art through the streets of Florence and later to Istanbul.
Istanbul – Hagia Sophia
Mostly what I like in Brown’s book is the information about some secret societies and cult sciences that he offer. This book also has that but it’s not that intriguing as in earlier books. However, I like the burning idea of growing human population as the basic theme of book shown in contrast to Dante’s hell and Black Death. The way past integrated so beautifully in modern times of medicines and WHO is wonderful.
Dante
Inferno
Problem that I had while reading the book was, in the end it became very repetitive. It looked like author wanted to convince everyone with Zoborist’s point of view and to put forward a horrifying picture of our future. Done well, but way too much, according to my reading style.
Robert Langdon
Next thing that I am waiting now is to see this one also as a movie (hopefully coming in 2015). Actually to see the handsome TomHanks playing – The Robert Langdon. 🙂
When We Decided To Get Married, Again(jcisnowjs.wordpress.com)
Indian marriages…. What one should think about, before getting married?(humanembodiment.com)
Aditi Bhan’s Novel Narrates the Story of a Modern Day Career Girl and Her Dreams(medindia.net)
My Journey So Far.... 